But...
every year, I don't.
So this year, I am giving you a recap in true Krystal fashion - totally late. (I am not sure why I can't do things on time like a normal person) I tried to post this on New Years Day - but my www connection was so slow...then ife happened and am just now getting around to finalizing it.
Here goes...
I love to go home to the ranch and read all of the Christmas cards that my Grandparents have gotten throughout the past years and I enjoy each and every one of them. (even if I don't know who they are) I always admire people who write Christmas letters!
One of my favorite Christmas letters to read is my Great Uncle Marley and Aunt Button's. Uncle Marley writes the letter each year and he does it by months of the year and tells what he and his family did throughout the year. Well Uncle Marley - if you are reading this, I am stealing your idea.
In this world of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, email, my blog etc. Most of you probably know what I've been up to throughout 2013. But don't worry - I am going to re-cap it anyway. ;)
I am sticking with a traditional 'Christmas Letter', but modernizing it by posting it on my little bloggity blog. (Also - in keeping up with how I usually do things, I'm late with getting it done)
Let's start with JANUARY
First, Happy New Year! Let the adventure begin!
I put my cute little house in Justin, TX on the market in October of 2012 and by the end of January 2013, I was moved out. That yard was all weeds when I moved in back in '07. I really worked hard on that lawn! (Actually I paid a guy named Jose Corona to do my yard work, but I did plant flowers and a garden. Jose was awesome and showed up every other Saturday like clock-work)
Time to get 'on the road again'....I was transferred to a construction project in Ghent, Kentucky in July of 2012 and it became too much for me to own and maintain a house in Texas, work in Kentucky and have a relationship and family in Montana.
Something had to go.
So in January my boyfriend and I packed everything up and moved it to storage. I didn't realize how much
I bought this chair in Vernon, TX at a 2nd hand store back in 2001 for about $30 bucks and have been hauling it around ever since. I called it my 'high dollar' chair. (in a very Southern accent - long story) Although I did love the high dollar, it didn't make the storage cut - and for some reason Goodwill wouldn't even take it! What the??? We left it sitting alongside the road. I drove by a couple of months ago and it wasn't sitting there any longer. I am hoping it is making a stray cat somewhere happy. One thing to note is that this is probably the first time I have littered anything...besides a few beer cans in high school, ever.in.my.life.
With all of the moving, we managed to have a little fun. We toured the Jim Beam Bourbon Distillery! It was really neat and a HUGE operation. Although I still don't enjoy bourbon quite as much as the local Kentuckians do - I sure don't mind tasting!
If you are drinking a bottle of Knob Creek any time soon - who knows, we may have bottled it!
FEBRUARY went by with a blur. I don't even have any pictures in my camera to jog my memory!
MARCH - APRIL
In March & April I got to enjoy springtime in Kentucky! Everything was in full bloom and was so beautiful, it helped tackle my wintertime blues and made jogging so much more pleasureable!
MAY
Nothing says Kentucky tradition more than Mint Juleps and the Kentucky Derby. This year we got to experience it first-hand! The first weekend in May was cold and rainy, but we managed to spend the day in our dresses and fancy hats! My boyfriend’s Mom, sister in law and nephew came all the way from Montana to spend a weekend with me in Kentucky. We had a great time and I am so happy that I got to experience this with them! Something to note: a small bottle of Champagne at the Derby costs 30 bucks! AND if you get General Admission Tickets, you will never see the track.
JUNE
One major thing in June that happened - the Kentucky humidity started and I stopped fixing my hair. bleh
I did manage a trip or two to Montana to see my Hunney and family and made another trip back to Texas (I couldn’t get enough beach time!) to South Padre Island, TX for some very good friend’s, Travis and Vilma's, wedding. It was really nice to get to be there for their special day. They are such a fun and funny couple and I am pretty lucky to have them in my life.
JULY
July was my vacation month! Yay for vacation! I went to Montana for 10 days and spent time in Lewistown with my sweetie and Grass Range with my Grandpa, Uncles, Aunts and little cousins. I love my time on the ranch with my family!
I also made a trip over to Arlee, MT and spent a couple of days with my Aunt Valerie and Uncle Dib. They have such a nice place up in the mountains. It is so peaceful up there. We had a great visit and it was really nice to spend time with them.
Towards the end of July, I spent a long weekend in NYC with my good friend Angela. If felt like we toured every inch of the city and took in a couple of Yankees games. Something to note: a Miller Lite at a Yankees game costs about 10 bucks! Geesh again! We had a great time! It was so nice to experience NYC with a good friend. (don't worry, I blogged all about it, give it a read)
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
August and September flew by quickly! My 25th birthday (again) was in September and my co-workers filled my office full of balloons (probably at least 500)! I think I was popping balloons until November!
Since I have lived and worked ‘on the road’ for so long, my co-workers mean so much to me. It is so nice to have a work ‘family’ so close to me every.single.day. It makes my life and journeys so much more memorable.
OCTOBER
October is tobacco harvest time in Kentucky. It was really interesting to get to watch it all from start to finish. It's cut and harvested a all by hand and then hung it to dry in big barns that are scattered throughout the countryside.
Later in October, my Aunt Val, Uncle Dib and cousin Johnna came to visit me in the Tucky. We spent a long weekend touring the Kentucky Countryside. It was such a fun time! We saw so many sites, toured the Kentucky Horse Museum, Churchill Downs, Woodford Reserve Distillery, and a riverboat tour!
Also in Mid-October I got transferred to our corporate office in Omaha, NE for a few months. It has been a great place to live! I live right in Omaha's Old Market area and have been really enjoying urban living! My sister, Melody, lives there, so we have gotten to spend a bunch of time together, which has been really nice. I didn’t realize how good it feels to have family living in the same town as me until I moved to Omaha. ;) My very good friend Alicia lives there too! I am so spoiled right now to have my besties in the same place as me!
It's so nice to get to see my princess of a sister almost every day. ;) Love you!
NOVEMBER
In November I went to San Antonio and met up with one of my oldest friends, Tami, to run the San Antonio Rock n’ Roll half Marathon! We had a blast and finished without injury or heat exhaustion. (although it was about 90 degrees and 1,000% humidity!) I finished about 10 minutes slower than I planned, but overall was happy to finish. (I blogged about about it back in November - you should give it a read for more details about lines to the porta jons and sweating profusely)
DECEMBER
December came and went really fast! I took another vacation and spent 2 weeks in Montana. ;) (wow, it seems like I vacation a lot!) We had a fantastic Christmas with my family and my sweetie's family. I loved every single minute of my time off with my favorite people.
Last week I made a trip up to my old stomping grounds in Havre, MT and met up with some of my closest friends from college. We spent the night reminiscing and catching up! It was so good to see everyone.
We all met in the best year ever (1994) in Havre, Montana while living in the dorms at MSU-N and experienced college together and have remained friends ever since. Fortunately or Unfortunately, we have all matured (ugh) and grown-up (wtf?) we didn't dance on any tables or run from cops or throw-up at the end of the night - but it was so fun to catch up with our grown up versions and pick up right where we left off. I sure miss you ladies! It was so nice to see you and we need to get together again soon! Please start working construction and move around with me. It would be so fun! ;)
Cheers and best wishes to making the most of 2014! I hope it brings you happiness and good cheer and everything that you wish for!!
If you’re on the road near Nebraska – look me up! I would love to see and hear from you! (I think I’ll be there for another month or so – then we’ll see where my work/life takes me!) If not – I spend a lot of my weekends in Big Sky Country, I hope to see you around!
Merry Late Christmas and HAPPY LATE NEW YEAR!
Happy New Year Krys! Love your blog!!!! :-)
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